Gohmert Says Poor People Buying King Crab Legs With Food Stamps

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) said on the House floor Thursday that a conversation should be initiated about cutting food stamp programs because taxpayers are funding beneficiaries' purchases of gourmet foods -- like king crab legs.

The farm bill that was later voted down in the House of Representatives Thursday would have cut $2 billion in assistance to low-income Americans who benefit from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Gohmert said his "brokenhearted" constituents frequently tell him stories lamenting their inability to pay for fancy groceries while they see food stamp beneficiaries purchase gourmet food at the supermarket.

“Because he does pay income tax, he doesn’t get more back than he pays in, he is actually helping pay for king crab legs when he can’t pay for them for himself,” Gohmert said.

"We don’t want anyone to go hungry," Gohmert added, "and from the amount of obesity in this country by people who we’re told do not have enough to eat, it does seem like we could have a debate about this issue without allegations about wanting to slap down or starve children.”